Flexible tubing.



rA'lBNTED APR. 24, 1906.

S. SCOGNAMILLO. FLEXIBLE TUBING. APPLICATION FILED mnm mos UNITED suresPATENT OFFICE.

FLEXIBLE Specification of Letters Patent.

TUB'ING.

Patented April 24, 1 906.

Application filed Marla, 1905. Serial No. 260,347.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SALVATORE SCOGNA- MiLLo, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flexible Tubing. ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flexible tubing or metallic spiral hose ofthat type embodying an inner reinforce or tubular core which operates tohold the outer inclosing casing in regular contour and reinforce thesame against shocks or bending and at the same time maintains a closemovable assemblage of the several parts composing the outer casing.

The primary object of the present form of flexible tubing is to providemeans for more effectively holding the coils or members of the outercasing in connected relation with or without the use of an interposedpackingstrip. i A further object of the invention is to simplify theconstruction of the several parts of the tubing and facilitate theassemblage thereof either by mechanism adapted for the urpose or othermeans.

A still further object of theinvention is to insure an accurate andreliable association of the interlocking members of the coils of theouter casing of the tubing and to effect a permanency of the connectedparts or members of the outer casing through the medium of an innerresilient sustaining-coil of wire or a metallic strip. or ribbon whichis closely braced against inner portions of the outer casing and havingthe coils thereof regularly fitting within interspaces between saidportions.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the inventionconsists in the construction and arrangementof parts, which will bemorefully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of aportion of a flexible tubingjembod ing the features of the invention.Fig. 2 is a etail longitudinal section of a part of the flexible tubing,showing a slight modification. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig 2,showing a further modification. Fig. is a view similar to Figs. 1, 2,and 3, showing a still further modification. Fig. 5 is a longitudinalvertical section of a portion of the flexible tubing, showinga stillfurther modification and embodying the simplified form of the invention.

bled Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in theviews.

The outer or inclosing casing of the flexible tubing consists of a metalstrip of suitable width and spirally wound. As shown by Fig. 1, thestrip is bent to form a surface member 1 of concave-convex form with theconvex side outermost. At one edge the member 1 has aninwardly-projecting L shaped flange 2 and at the o posite edge aninwardly-projecting straight ange 3, continuous with an inner V-shapedlocking member 4, terminating at its free end in a horizontal orlongitudinally-disposed seat-flange 5. Each surface member 1 and theL-shaped flange 2 thereof provides a pocket or-recess 6 to receive apacking-strip 7, of asbestos or other suitable material, and when theseveral coils of the inclosing casing are assembled the edge of thesurface member carrying the L-shaped flange 2 fits into the spacebetween the flange 3 and the longitudinal seat-flange 5 or partiallyextends into the intervening space provided by the formation of the V-vsha ed locking member 4. The inner longitudmany-extending portion of theL-shaped flange 2 alines with the seat-flange 5 and completes the pocketor recess 6.

When the packing-strip 7 is disposed in the continuous pocket or recess6, provided by the coils of the inclosing casin tight joints are formedbetween the close yassociated members of the coils, and the range ofmove ment of the several coils is increased by reason of the provisionof the recesses between the surface members and formed by theinwardlv-projccted V-shapcd locking members 4. The tubing is completedas to. body structure by association of the outer inclosing casing withan inner spirally-coiled core, which, as shown by Fig. 1, is formed froma. flat strip or ribbon of spring-steel or analogous metal and bent orshaped to have a concave-convex contour in cross-scction, the convexside of the strip when a )plicd being outermost. The severalconvofutions 8 of this strip and forming the core or sustainingcoilclosely (it into the interspaces between the locking members 4 andforcefully bear against the contiguous portions of said members tomaintain the coils or convolutions of the outer inclosing casing inpositive assemrelatiun and also to reinforce or strengthen said outercasing. The convolutions 8 also resist injurious shocks or blows appliedto the outer casing and pre ent irregular bending or deformation of thesaid casing. The inner coils 8 of the core also assist in preserving theshape of the tubing when the latter is bent regularly in various usesand applications thereof, and particularly when employed as a lamp-bracket or support mg-arm. v

The form of the device shown by Fig. 2 is similar in all respects tothat shown by Fig.

1, with the exception ofjthe sustaining-core,

flanges 1(),form1ng a part of each convolution of the metallic stripcomposing the outer casing. The remaining parts of the structure shownby Fig. 3 are similar to those shown by Figs. 1 and 2 and bear likereference-numerals. The modified form shown by Fig. 4 has an inclosingcasing similar in construction to that shown by Figs. 1 and 2, with theexception of a slight variation in the form of the locking members,which in the present instance are constructed as semicircularprojections 11. The remaining parts of the easing and the inner core arenumbered in Fig. 4 similar to those parts having a like structure inFigs. 1 and Each of the forms of the tubing thus far described, andshown by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, has the seat-flanges 5, terminating inoutwardlyprojecting bearing-flanges 12, which contact with theinnerconcaved surfaces of the surface members 1 and provide side wallsfor the pockets or recesses 6 in opposition to the flanges 2 and 10 andalso strengthen the in closing casing and assist the convolutions of theinner core or sustaining element in performing their function.

By the use of the packing-strip 7 in the several forms of the. deviceexplained tight joints are produced between the closely-assembled partsof the outer casing, and in the form of the tubing shown by Fig. 3 thepacking-strip will close the opening between the flanges'lO and theadjacent portions of the locking members 4 and 1t).

The simplified form of the invention is shown by Fig. 5 and consists ofout-orcon cave-convex surface menibers'l 1 without the 1 movable 1n thead acent space over or into flanges 2 or 10, from which directly extendinwardly-projected angular or V-shapcd locking members 15. The angularlocking members 15 have their free extrennt les m the suc cessiveconvolutions lying closely under tho bend between the surface membersand the remaining portions of said locking members, and in the angularint-erspaces between the locking members the convolutions 16 of the coreor sustaining-coil are closely lit-ted, the material used for theformation of the core in this instance being wire having a contourtriangular in cross-section. In this simplified form of the tubing nopacl ing-stripbr flanges similar to flanges 2, 5, 3, and 10 are used,thus materially reducing the expense of manufacture without in the leastdetracting from the effectiveness of the tubing o r the positiveassemblage of the several convolutions forming the outer casing.

All of the locking projections 4, 11, and 15 have adjacentoutwardly-converging walls or members, so that the convolutions of thecore or sustaining-coil may exert a wedging action thereagainst.

The seat-flanges 5, as shown by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, form outerclosures or walls for the spaces engaged by the convolutions of thecoreor sustaining-coil, and the pressure exerted by the said convolutions onthe parts of the tubing enga ed thereby forces the said seat-flangesintoc oser engagement or more positive relation with respect to thecooperating members of the tubing to reliably preserve the pockets inpro er shape and effective in securing the pac 'ingstrip in appliedposition. In all the forms of the. tubing shown the convolutions of thecore or sustaining-coil exert a longitudinal pressure on the inwardprojections 4 and 11, which provide the seats for said convolutionsbearing snu ly and firmly against the projections and holding theseat-flanges, as shown by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, under the outer orsurface members. In the modification shown by Fig. 5 the free terminalsof the annular looking members 15, as at 15*, are also in the form offlanges which are held ositivcly under the surface members 14, am boththe seat-flanges 5 and the flanges 15 form closures with respect to thespaces engaged by the convolutions of the coil inside of the surfacemembers with material advantage in the strength and durability of thetubing. Furthermore, the surface. members of all the forms of the tubingshown have outer convex sides to avoid formation of surface projections,which would be disadvantageous in shapingthe tubing by hand to adapt it.for various uses.

Another similarity in the several forms of the tubing set forth is thatone side edge of each surface member whether Hanged, as shown by Figs.1, 2, 3, and 4, or devoid of a flanged structure, as shown by lig.. 5,is

which it projects and provided by the locking members of either angularor curved form, as shown. g i

The flexible t ubing embodying the features IIO of the invention may beused for any purpose to which it may be ap licable, and furthermodifications in the s ape of the several Jart-s as Well as details ofconstruction may 6 adopted without departing from the scope of theinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is*- e 1. Aflexible tubing consisting of an outer casing composed of1novably-connected convolutions formed with concave-convex surfacemembers and inwardly-projecting look ing members with contiguousoutwarrlly-converging sides, parts of the latter being inclosed by thesurface members and forming closures for portions of the spaces betweenthe said locking members, and an inner resilient core havingconvolntions fitting closely in the spaces provided between the lockingmembers.

A flexible tubing consisting of an outer casing composed ofmovablyconnected eon' volutions having inwardly-projecting lockingmembers with outwardly-converging contiguous portions, and also formedwith concavo-convex surface mei'nbers having their convex sidesoutermost, the. inwardly-projecting locking members includingflange-terminals inclosed by the. said surface members and freelymovable in the latter and forming closures for a portion of the spacesbetween the said locking members, and a resilient sustaining-core havingthe convolutions thereof closely titted in the said spaces, and bear ingagainst the outwardly converging portions ol the locking members.

3. A flexible tubing consisting of an outer casing composed ofniovably-connected convolutions having inwardly-projecting lockingmembers with outwardly-converging contiguous portions continuous withcom-avoconvex surface members and terminal llanges extendinglongitudinally of the tubing inside ol the surface members, and aresilient core having convolutions snugly bearing against theoutwardly-converging locking members.

-l. llexiblo tubing having an inclosing casing romposed ol eonvolutionsformed with inwzu'ill \'-projei-ting luchilig' members lcrminating inlongitiulinally extending scatllangos and continuous with outercont-avor-onvox surl'aic members, tlidscat llangcs l'orniing pocketswith the said surl'ui-c mombers and freely movable in relation to thelatter, a packing-strip mounted in said pockets, and a resilient corehaving convolutions hearing snugly against the contiguous portions ofthe inwardly-projecting locking members.

A flexible tubing having an inclosing casing composed of convolutionsformed with inwardlyprojecting locking members providing inner and outerspaces between the contiguous portions thereof, the inner spacesconverging outwardly and the locking members terminating inlongitudinally-extending seat-flanges located. within concavo-con'vexsurface members, a packing-strip mounted between the surface members andthe seatflanges, and a resilient core having convolutions snugly bearingin the outwardly-converging spaces between the locking members.

6. A flexible tubing having an inclosing casing composed of convolutionsformed. with outer surface members continuing at one side intoinwardlyprojecting locking members having their contiguous portionsconverged outwardly and terminating in seat-flanges which projectlongitudinally with respect to the tubing and lie within the surfacemembers to form pockets with the latter, the oppositc sides of theconvolutions having inwarilly-projecting flanges of less extent than thelocking members, a packing-strip in the said pockets, and asustaining-core having its convolutions bearing against theoutwardlyconverged portions of the locking members.

7. A flexible tubing having an inclosing casing com posed ofconvolut-ions formed with outer surface members continuing at one sideinto imvardlyprojecting locking members having their contiguous portionsconverged outwardly and terminating in flanges lying within the surfacemembers and extending longitudinally of the tubing, the opposite sidesof the surface members having inwardlyprojecting flanges of less extentthan the inwardly projecting locking members, and a sustaining-corehaving its convolutions snugly bearing against the outwardly-convergedportions of the locking members.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

SALVATORE S( ()GNA UILLO.

Witnesses:

(ino. W. REA, W. B. lineman.

